Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
In late January work got underway to replace the 48-year-old Onetai Stream Bridge, north of Paeroa on State Highway 26 (SH26), and from Monday 10 March, the road reopens following completion of the first phase.
“SH26, between Paeroa and Thames, has been closed while work to replace the bridge has been underway. Due to the site being particularly narrow, and the small size of the bridge, the safest and most efficient option was closing the road to demolish the old bridge and install the new one,” says Andrew Oakley, Waikato System Manager at NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).
A wider, stronger bridge is making this route on the eastern side of the Waihou River safer and more resilient.
“Bridges in New Zealand are generally built with concrete, and for this one we’re piloting a new approach which has been successful overseas. The new Onetai Stream Bridge is being built with a timber deck and bridge beams,” says Mr Oakley.
The original bridge was designed and constructed in 1976. Its 2025 replacement will be 3 metres wider giving drivers more lane space, and with additional safety features including a new type of side barrier.
To plan ahead and see where disruptive works are, people can use the NZTA Journey Planner. This is kept up to date in real time so you can see all disruptive activity and potential hazards on the state highway network.
Journey Planner(external link)
Waikato Bay of Plenty works as at 7 March 2025 [PDF, 639 KB]
New Onetai Stream Bridge under construction
